Georgian billionaire storms K Street

A Georgian billionaire has taken Washington by storm, hiring more than half a dozen lobbying and public relations firms over the past three months.

Bidzina Ivanishvili wants to become an official candidate in the country’s first prime minister race and he hopes that U.S. pressure for free and fair elections will help, since that could be a step toward Georgia’s long-held goal of being recognized by NATO.

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The lobbying push is massive — going beyond what most countries spend trying to influence Washington lawmakers, much less an individual.

Venerable firms like Patton Boggs, National Strategies, Downey McGrath Group, Parry Romani Deconcini & Symms and BGR Group have all signed on to lobby for Ivanishvili. KL Global and Democratic communicator Peter Mirijanian have also recently done proactive press outreach for him.

Ivanishvili, the wealthiest man in Georgia, made much of his $6.4 billion fortune in Russia. He is embroiled in a bitter feud with Georgia president Mikheil Saakashvili over the future of the country. Saakashvili, who has dominated Georgian politics since the country’s 2008 war with Russia, may also run to be the next prime minister.

The fight for control of Georgia bubbling up in Washington politics underscores the importance Georgia puts on its relationship with the United States and becoming a member of NATO.

To be sure, the country of Georgia has long had a strong presence in Washington. Podesta Group and Orion Strategies are on a $50,000 and $45,000 monthly lobbying retainer for the country, respectively.

Georgian Ambassador Temuri Yakobashvili told POLITICO that the embassy is focused on “advancing our country’s national interests and on further strengthening the bilateral relationship with the United States, which is Georgia’s most important partner.”

He added: “In this effort, our government employs consultants in order to help us better understand and navigate the complexities of Washington. Other political actors in Georgia of course are free to do the same, although we hope they would aim to advance the common interests of the Georgian state and its people.”

For his part, Ivanishvili has defended his K Street presence, which includes political heavyweights like Thomas Boggs of Patton Boggs and former Rep. Tom McDowney (D-N.Y.) and former Sen. Steve Symms (R-Idaho).

“For years, on our money, Saakashvili had strong lobbyists, and played with our money, and tried to lie and show a facade of democracy,” Mr. Ivanishvili recently told the New York Times. “I can also permit myself to hire some lobbying companies, in America among other places, and we can try to show the real picture.”